Grass-catcher for lawn-mowers



Patented Jan. 3, I899.

U. A. YOUNG. GRASS CATGHER FOR LAWN MOWEBS.

(Application filed June 30, 1898.) (No Model.)

Nrrnn -ArnNr Fries.

OIVEN ANDREYV YOUNG, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

GRASS-CATCHER FOR LAWN-JVIOWERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,006, dated January 3, 1899.

Application filed Tune 30, 1 8 9 8.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OWEN ANDREW YOUNG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Easton, in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Grass-Catcher for Lawn-Mowers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to attachments for lawn-mowers, and particularly to a grass catcher adapted to be applied to a lawnmower of any ordinary construction and having means for collecting grass as it leaves the mowingdevices and forperiodically discharging the collected grass to form heaps or windrows.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lawn-mower attachment constructed in accordance with my invention applied in the operative position to a lawn-mower. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing the positions of the parts at mid-stroke during the discharging operation of the scraper.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures of the drawlngs.

1 designates a laterally-flanged receptacle or drag provided at its front end with attaching-links 2, pivotally mounted upon the receptacle-flanges 3 near their front ends and adapted for attachment at suitable points to the lawn-mower frame. Spanning the receptacle at an intermediate point is an arched supporting-frame 4, provided at its center with a bracket 5, terminating in a bearing 6, and mounted in the bearing is the upper ful crum-bar 7 of a scraper, normally disposed in a pendent position, but of a length greater than the distance betweenthe bearing and the floor of the receptacle. In addition to the fulcrum-bar said scraper consists of side toggle or jointed arms, having upper and lower members 8 and 9, connected at their lower ends by a follower-bar 10 to traverse the floor of the receptacle. In the construction illustrated the upper members of the toggle or jointed arms are bifurcated to receive the tongues on the contiguousextremities of the Serial No. 684,835- (No model.)

lower arms, suitable pivot-pins 11 being on gaged with the interlocking extremities of the members to allow the deflection of the joints in either direction from the plane of the frame.

The jointed construction of the scraper pro= vides for the mounting thereof in a fixed bearing on the frame of the receptacle, while allowing the follower-bar to traverse the floor of the receptacle approximately throughout its length, the deflection of the arms of the scraper increasing as the follower approaches the vertical plane of the bearing and decreas ing in opposite directions from this point until the members of the arms are in alinement, as indicated in Fig. 1; also, the frame members of the scraper may be provided with any suitable filling (not shown) or may be open, as indicated in the drawings, a function of the scraper, in addition to that of removing accumulations of grass from the receptacle, being to close the rear end of the receptacle during the operation of the mower, and thus cause cut grass thrown rearwardly from the mower to drop into the receptacle.

Connected to the lower member of the scraper-frame, at an intermediate point between the lower edge of scraper bar or blade and the joint between the arm members, is the front end of an operating-handle 12, such connection being pivotal and being accomplished by means of a bracket 13, projecting upwardly from the scraper or follower bar and being bifurcated to receive the extremity of said handle. The operating-handle is also provided at its rear or free end with a hook 14 for engagement with an eye 15 on the lawnmower handle 16 when the parts are in the normal position (indicated in Fig. 1) or with the scraper or follower blade at the rear end of the receptacle.

hen the scraper is in its normal position, as above set forth, to prevent the escape of grass from the receptacle, said scraper being rearwardly and downwardly inclined, grass thrown rearwardly from the mower is caused to fall into the receptacle, and when a sufficient amount has accumulated the operating handle of the grass catcher should be disengaged from the lawn-mower handle and elevated to cause the blade to swing forward over the grass in the receptacle until it reaches a position in advance thereof, after which it is lowered in front of the accumulated grass and is then drawn rearwardly to discharge the consubsequent raking, the grass being deposited atintervals in piles or windrows, as preferred.

Thejointed or toggle'construction of the side arms of the sectional scraper provides not only for the rearward movement of the scraper or follower bar in contact with the floor of the receptacle, but the above-described elevation of said follower to pass it forwardly over a quantity of grass accumulated in the receptacle preparatory to the discharge of such contents by the rearward movement of the scraper.

The left-hand wall of the receptacle ordrag is preferably made somewhat higher than the opposite wall, as approximately double the height thereof, for the reason that grass as it is cut by the knives is thrown to the left instead of directly to the rear, and I have found it desirable to guard against throwing the grass out of the receptacle by upwardly extending said left-hand wall.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. A grass-catcher for lawn-mowers, having a receptacle provided with means for attachment to alawn-mower, and provided with an arched frame, and a scraper journaled at its upper end upon said frame, and having jointed or toggle arms and a lower follower or scraper blade for traversing the floor of the receptacle, and an operating-handle connected to the lower member of the scraper at an intermediate point.

2. An attachment for lawn-mowers, having a drag or receptacle open at its rear end, and a sectional scraper having jointed or toggle side arms connected at their upper ends by a journal-bar mounted in a suitable bearing, and connected at their lower ends by a scraper or follower bar to traverse the floor of the receptacle, an operating-handle pivotally connected to the lower member of the scraper at a point between its lower edge and the joints of said side arms, and means for securing the scraper in its normal position at the rear open end of the receptacle, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with alaWn-mower, of a laterally flanged receptacle having an arched intermediate frame, links loosely connecting the front end of the receptacle with the lawn-mower frame, a scraper journaled at its upper end in a bearing upon said receptacle-frame and having jointed or toggle side arms and a transverse follower or scraper bar to traverse the bottom of the receptacle, an operating-handle pivotally connected with the lower member of the scraper at an intermediate point, and means, consisting of an engaging hook and eye, carried respectively by the lawn-mower and operating-handles, for securing the scraper in its normal position at the rear end of the receptacle to prevent the accidental escape of accumulations in the receptacle, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

OIVEN ANDREW YOUNG. lVitnesses:

I. S. UHLER, II. D. MAXWELL. 

